Y9 on the verge of a permanent exclusion.

[stressedatbestt]

I’m pulling my hair out with my brother school, I have a SGO and my brother is year 9, never had any issues before this current school year.

He is academically bright, top sets. I have been called to the school 4 times since September based on his behaviour, one for throwing tomatoes, one for pushing someone over in a corridor, one for encouraging people to mess around and the latest one is fighting.

the fight I was called up for, I was told my brother was bullying. We went home and my brother had told me the boy had threatened him multiple times about watch after school and shown me videos of the boy posing with a knife. I contacted the school who brushed it off saying the boy has SEN issues and it was an old photo from last year. They still mention this boy is the victim and my brother was the aggressor and shouldn’t have approached him - even after multiple threats. They’ve excluded him for five days and mentioned a perm exclusion if there are any wider problems ongoing. (This is his third exclusion now)

if he is referred to a PRU can we then apply for a different school nearby or are they going to be unwilling ? Isit best to change him now as I don’t want him stuck in a PRU.

Ask them for a managed move to another school.

A managed move is a voluntary agreement between schools, parents and your child. It is for your child to change school or educational programme under controlled circumstances.
Managed moves are often used as an alternative to permanent exclusion; the result is that no exclusion is formally logged on your child's school record.

Just taken the above from a website to explain what it is.

Tell him this is his one chance to get it right.

I’m really sorry but children like him find children like him. He’s not learned to steer clear. He’s obviously keen to mess about. A managed move won’t work unless he stops his behaviour. It’s a possibility you should enquire about though. Some PRUs are great. Discuss the options with the school but they clearly are near the end of their tether with him.

Given he is your brother and he is in your care under a SGO, is there a lot of upset in his background? Could his background be contributing to things? Would he benefit from counselling or similar?

Second consider requesting a managed move. He stays on role at current school until it is seen if he settles in the new one.

@stressedatbestt
Ive attached some info that might help. There is plenty of advice about a managed move on line. It’s worth knowing what might be useful before you have discussions. There’s more available than just moving to another school.

You need to request a managed move prior to exclusion. If he's already been excluded, it's highly unlikely another school would take him.

However, if he was involved in a fight or similar at the new school, the managed move would fail, and he'd return to his original school.

His current school will likely be keen to try a managed move- it looks better for them than permanent exclusion- but it relies on another school being willing to take him. Do you have a school in mind?

If you have an SGO, I would also ask for some support/counselling for him. Does he have a social worker right now? Or a youth worker?

I'd also add that given one of his previous FTEs was for pushing someone over, the school will see that as him having a history of violence. In terms of fighting, if his attack on the other student was aggressive, or disproportionately violent in terms of "self defence" then the school will seek to exclude, even if they are also dealing with the other student. They won't tell you what sanctions (if any) the other student has faced.

If your brother does return to his current school, I would ask for a plan to keep him separate from the student he fought with. This should ensure he is safe without feeling like he has to take matters into his own hands.

I do a lot of work around exclusions as part of my day job. I’m hoping I can give you some helpful advice.

Before it gets to P ex I’d do three things:

1. be polite but robust with the school and push them on what support they are putting in place to help your brother improve his behaviour. The onus is on them as much as it is on him. If it gets to p ex the school will need to demonstrate to the governor panel that p ex is an absolute last resort and that they have done everything they can to try and improve his behaviour. Support could include things like mentoring, internal or external counselling , short term adjusted or part time timetable if there are certain times of the day or lessons that trigger poor behaviour. It could also include things like a managed move or directing off site to an alternative provision that can offer something different to the mainstream school that will help him improve his behaviour
2. have a look at any other schools you’d be happy for him to attend. You can make an in year admission to any school at any time. If the school has space they have to admit your brother (bad behaviour is not a valid reason for a school to refuse admission) if they don’t have space you can appeal.
3. all schools should have a designated teacher for looked after children and post looked after children. Ask to meet with them and find out what they are doing to support your brother to make the right choices and improve his behaviour. If the answer is nothing, challenge them.

If it does get to p ex come back to the thread and ask for further advice. As your brother is on an SGO he is classed as a vulnerable child. Schools should (but not all do) do everything to avoid excluding vulnerable pupils. Right up to the point the governor panel meets to consider the exclusion the p ex can be revoked. Schools can continue to seek a managed move or alternative provision up to this point.

some PRUS are rubbish but many are really good and have excellent staff who can support your brother to get back on track. The aim of the PRU is to get a child back in mainstream school when they’re ready for it. A move to a PRU isn’t necessarily a disaster.

if you need further advice, have a look at child law advice website. There are also some advocacy organisations that support families (usually free of charge) and can attend a p ex panel with you or support you with putting your case together if it gets to that stage. You don’t need legal advice but it’s helpful to get support from someone who ‘knows the system’

hope that helps. Good luck